· 11 years and still waiting for Labor’s long-term infrastructure strategy

· Waterfront master plan, major urban public transport study all missing too

· Further evidence of Labor’s lack of leadership, vision and failure to plan properly for the future

More than 11 years after the election of the State Labor Government, Tasmanians are still waiting for it to produce a long-term infrastructure strategy to plan, and cater, for Tasmania’s future infrastructure needs.

That’s despite the government finally agreeing in 2008 to the Liberals’ long-running demands that it develop such a long-term strategy.

In September last year, Infrastructure Minister, Graeme Sturges, told Parliament:

A new secretary of the department, Mr Norm McIlfatrick, started last week and the first job that he has been given is to develop a 10-year infrastructure plan; going forward, not living in the past.

It was supposed to be finished in September this year.

But, just like the Hobart waterfront masterplan and the Major Urban Public Transport Study (that was supposed to be finalised in April this year) it is nowhere to be seen.

Labor’s failure to develop such a long-term infrastructure plan is more evidence of its inability to properly plan for our future.

Labor has been more focussed on short-term political imperatives than the long-term interests of our State. As a result, our infrastructure needs have been sorely neglected and the results of that can be seen today on our roads, in our rail system, in concern about the future of our ports.

There is no doubt that Labor’s lack of a long-term infrastructure strategy cost us dearly when it came to seeking a share of federal infrastructure stimulus money. In the May budget $22billion was allocated to all the other States and Territories for major infrastructure projects yet Tasmania missed out and this must in part have been due to the lack of any comprehensive infrastructure plan. Although when it comes to rail we now know no funding was even sought.

I am also in no doubt that the lack of stability in the Labor Government that has seen a revolving door of infrastructure ministers, has hindered the development of such an important strategy.

The government needs to say where its long term infrastructure strategy is.

It needs to explain to Tasmanians why there has been no such strategy for the last 11 years.

And the government must also reveal whether this strategy will include planning and progressing towards a four-lane Midland Highway – the sort of infrastructure for the future that Tasmanians deserve.

The Tasmanian Liberals believe it is imperative that there be a long-term strategic infrastructure blueprint for the State.

We have been saying this for years.

And a long-term infrastructure plan developed by our government would include a four lane Midland Highway – the sort of infrastructure for the future Tasmanians deserve.
Jeremy Rockliff MP Shadow Minister for Infrastructure